Weekend Attempt To Free Ship Planned

January 18, 1985|By Julie Eagle, Staff

PALM BEACH — Salvage workers, hoping for the past week to dislodge the grounded Mercedes I from the backyard of a mansion, on Thursday prepared extra salvage gear that now won`t be ready until ``Saturday at the earliest,`` the foreman said.

Salvage master Billy Kratz had been hoping for prime weather conditions -- northeasterly winds during high tide -- to help crews move the 197-foot boat offshore.

But the wrong winds have blown since last Friday, forcing the salvagers from Donjon Marine Co. to explore other options for removing the freighter from Mollie Wilmot`s seawall.

Kratz ordered the extra gear. It should be in place Saturday or Sunday and may enable workers to pull the vessel from its seawall perch regardless of the weather, he said.

Thursday, the workers rigged a third cable and a third pair of anchors, which are now needed to do the job. Kratz was negotiating for a second winch, he said.

The crews are stretching thick wire cable from barge anchors located 1,200 feet offshore to equipment, including winches and a series of ropes and pulleys, welded aboard the vessel.